Saturday, March 30, 2002

WORCESTER City's eight-match unbeaten away run came to an abrupt end at Twerton Park with a 4-0 hammering at the hands of relegation battlers Bath City.

A 36th minute penalty and two quick strikes on the hour mark killed the game before a stoppage time goal sealed a comfortable win and handed a timely boost to the home side's fight for survival.

It was a huge setback for City who undid all their recent good work with a display lacking in any kind of passion or guile.

Worcester manager John Barton described his players as unrecognisable from those that had inflicted defeats to Newport County and Crawley Town and they were indeed a pale imitation.

The St George' Lane boss will be hoping Saturday's result is just a blip, but once again he was left to rue the inconsistencies that have periodically haunted his side this season.

It must leave question marks over the current squad's ability to mount a serious title challenge next season.

"The result was disappointing but you only have to look at the performance to see exactly why we got that result," said Barton."We were just not at the races and it is hard to believe it is the same set of players from recent displays.

"I thought we were roughed up and had no contributions of note in any area of the pitch.To add insult to injury the way we conceded goals was like parks' stuff."

Bone dry conditions ruined the game as a spectacle with a ferociously wicked bounce frequently leaving players heading thin air and passes running beyond their in-tended targets.

But despite not threatening themselves, City look-ed relatively comfortable with the only danger in the opening 35 minutes courtesy of Bath captain Gary Thorne's huge throws launched 50 yards into the box.

However, City were slow getting to grips with the conditions, often picking the wrong pass or seemingly content to hit long balls for Stewart Hadley and Adam Webster.

The tactic rendered the midfield of Darren Middleton, Leon Jackson and Nathan Jukes largely redundant.

As the game progressed Bath's tenacity surfaced and former Hereford United striker Adrian Foster started to exert a growing influence oand he forced the breakthrough when Paul Carty brought him down for a needless penalty easily converted by Jason Drysdale.

The second-half started brightly for City with Jukes swinging in a couple of crosses that Marc Burrow and Webster should have done better with. However, the game was over in the 58th minute with a soft second goal from Dan Cleverley who slotted home a looping cross unmarked from six yards.

Two minutes later Thorne headed a Drysdale free kick in at the back post and City were left playing just for pride.

Unfortunately even that was beyond salvage and Foster scored a fourth which Barton likened to that seen in parks' football.

Youngster Tom Poston made his debut, coming on as a 63rd minute substitute for Jackson, but one or two neat touches aside he was unable to make an impact.

City: McDonnell 6, Davies 5, Carty 5, Heeley 6, Burrow 5, Holloway 6, Jukes 6, Hadley 7 (Shepherd 79), Webster 6, Jackson 5 (Poston 6), Middleton 5. Sub not used: Cottrill.

Attendance: 718.